Reel mower



Nov. 24, 1953 Filed Deo. l5, 1948 Ain l y d 'lin 1 Il l u R. D. cLEMsoN 2,660,018

' REEL NOWER 3 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 24, 1953 R, D, CLEMSQN 2,660,018

REEL. MOWER Filed Dec. l5, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 24, 1953 R. D. cLEMsoN REEL MOWER Filed Dec. l5, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 24, 1953 REEL MOWER Richard D. Clemson, Middletown, N. Y., assignor to Clemson Bros., Inc., Middletown, N. Y.

Application December 15, 1948, Serial No. 65,462V

11 Claims.

This invention relates to shearing devices and more particularly to rotary shears of the type commonly used in lawn mowers, and more particularly to lawn mowing and other mowing machines.

It is one object of the present invention to pro- Vide a structure which is capable of cutting grass and Weeds which would merely bend down ahead of an ordinary rotary reel mower. It is also an object to improve the efciency of the cutting action and uniformity of the mowing operation.

Another object of the invention is to improve the effectiveness and to increase the useful life of a shearing or mowing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide for maintenance of such a machine in a condition of maximum shearing efficiency with a minimum of expense and without the need for taking the machine out of service and sending it to a shop or to the factory for regrinding, etc.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

-In these drawings and the accompanying description I have set forth a preferred embodiment of my invention and various modifications thereof and have suggested certain alternatives. It is to be understood that these are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the invention, but on the contrary are given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view taken from the rear righthand side of the mower;

Figure 2 is a similar perspective View on a larger scale and with the handle and one of the Wheels, guard plate and pinion removed to expose certain parts of the mechanism;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a View in vertical section taken on line 4--4 of Figure 3;

` Figure 5 is a fragmentary isometric view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the bed knife shown in Figures 1-4 inclusive;

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 but showing a different bed knife and different flyknives and with the machine in a different position of adjustment for shearing at a higher level;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary .View taken on line 2 'I-'I of Figure 6, showing the parts in the adjusted relation of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed view showing the same parts as the bottom lefthand portion of Figure 4 but in a plane passing along the surface of the outermost plate which is exposed in Figure 2; and,

, Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary cross sectional views showing modified forms of y-knife.

The machine shown in Figures 6 and '7 is modified from that shownrin Figures 15 inclusive and 8 in that the shear knives are of different form and different fastenings are provided for securing the shear blade of the bed knife to its support.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the mower there shown consists broadly of a main frame composed of a tie tube I0, side frame members I2 rigidly and integrally secured thereto, ground wheels I1 mounted on the axles I8, a reel 20, having its shaft 22 mounted in cone bearings 24 andA spring plates 26,` ground roller assembly including the three rollers 28 mounted on an axle 30 secured, e. g. by taper pins driven through the shaft and the hubs 32 on the sector plate 34 pivoted on the inner end of the wheel axle shaft I8 (as best shown in Figure 3) and a handle 36, in this case made of tubular steel or aluminum having tines flattened at their ends and punched or drilled to t onto the studs 38 and swing on these studs between the stops 39 and 40. The upper end of the handle is broken away in the drawing for convenience of showing. The handle in this case may be the same as is shown in my prior Patent No. 2,152,278, or may be the articulated handle, as more particularly described and claimed in the copending application Serial No. 49,362, led ySeptember 15, 1948.

The ends of the side frames opposite to the tie tube are accurately formed to provide respectively aligned nat faces against which are mounted and rigidly bolted the fiat ends I4 of the bed knife I6. The accurately spaced relationships in this frame are secured by casting the two side frames at the same time in a precision casting die and by assembling the bed knife with the frame in a jig which holds the side frames accurately positioned while holes are drilled into the frame members I2 and through the bed knife ends I4, into which dowels are inserted. While the frames and bed knife are still held in the jig. additional holes are drilled andtapped and countersunk for the bolts I 5, which hold the bed knife against the frame.

- Studs 48 and 42 both serving to hold a spring and this spring passes rst through a groove in" the stud 42 and then into an undercut slotll-iin the end of the tie tube i by which it is locked in place under stress. the cone bearings 2d and thus to assure auto:

This servesI to preload matic take-up of any weanwhich1.mayfoccurly The opposite end of the spring plate 26 is engaged by the adjusting screw 52 mounted'in the" boss 54 integrally cast on the side member I2. (See Figures@ 'andSD The springs'dd tend also to hold the spring plates 26 up'against-the adjusting 'screw'A 52Tand i advantageously are designed toicarryfthe-lweightof the reelso` that'onlythe rotated.

Tlief-freelf is Edriven,frfonr-the` traction' Wheels :I 1

byetlie'internallririggears"5B-10i the wheels driv-` ngf-thlroughthe pinions 60 fand 'theshuttle pins runningelutchesz-f The f-sectorf-plates 34'11'are'each provided witha-V series iof holes-164 intofanyiof `which? the springs pressed latch pin 66 may engage, as best shown` This structure as thusfan'described embodies the-inventions heretoforefknown and manyro which-fare described and: claimed in my prior 'pat-r ents fand *co-'pending applications; and particu'- larly'flinv my vapplic'zation:f-Serial 'Nol' 49,362', led

September-15194K nowPatent-Noi 2,624,168.``

In accordance swith-'the' present invention' the edge'fstrip 1!l,-'^best1seenfin"Figures 3,`v 4, and The -main supporting lstructure YofI this' bed knifeY is similar to that previously described inmy prior patent;J and-ds- 'made -byf folding 'a sheet' 'of heavy thickness front portion fcfrmedfbyparallel'-edgesv advantageously'fgrazed; welded or `riveted togeth-v ers' In'ffmy prior-mowersf'one of these edges has been-utilized *as the lenti/ting edge Of the vbed knife.'

Accordingto :the present vinvention; however;

there=is'f'n1eunte`dbnitlfie` -edge of 'thisE supporting v structure Va f-separate 1harde'r'strip, advantageous-v ly of a special-tool-materiali`eng.; heat treated nai-1 slo'ts 7 2 at "regularly spaced 'intervals along it'Sle'ngtiifand centered with-respect to its width.

knifefl fhas-*its'fedgeebent `-vupward* as `shown `at 'Msbtat intervals alo'ngits length', portions 16 arelefti standing straight outward and are under` cutfrom one-sider thereof soas to -form' hooks V'16.v

putin .'placezwith'the .hcoks' 'I6 tted into the slots 'I2 and then moved longitudinally Vto lock the strip zinzthe .undercutslof hoks '16; the l'operatingdrag of the reel will serve to hold the strips in the locked relation.

In this position the strip 10 is held against the accurately formed lower edge 13 of the bed knife I6 and the upturned lip, or upper edge portion 14. The undercuts in hooks 16 are sloped or tapered to a spacing from the edges 14, 18 very slightly less than the thickness of the strip l0 so thatthelatterfis'jammedi against'the edges 14, 18.' The strip lll 'is thus very securely held and yet it can be removed and replaced with a new strip or inverted to present a fresh edge at any time-.when it becomes unduly worn or dulled.

The iiy knives Bil of the reel 2e are, according :to thefpresent invention, arranged so as to present-a-relatively narrow leading edge in the direction-omoyementiand an aerodynamic form such as to deiiect the air through which is passes towarde-tl'iecenter by a turbine action, instead of driving it outward by centrifugal action as h'asfbeeir'the `casevvith all-reels used heretofore, so-far fas'iI am -aware. n I have vfound that one' of the-'eprincipalndiculties A-inv cuttingY tall grassparticularly. A-in therapid-growing season, is. due to the fanning by reason of this centrifugal-ac-V tionfoithef'freeL-:which tends 1toblow the grass down;awayircmstheereel; sothat much of it :is

notfengagedbetweenthe fiyv vknives and `the -bedknife-il Thist'diiculty is,v exaggerated-:whenthemower. -isadjusted-to 'afhigh llevel, cut, for example-.fas :shown-fin Fig,Y (ii-wherein the bed kniferises-:substantially eabove and behindzthev bottom of@ the rreel. By the. presenti invention,- however; this is largely avoided-vbyreason of--the turbine action-.oi the. zblades and their.- aerodynamic form suchthat theair-is-notdriven tangentially ahead ofc-.thablade-but-is'deflected-inward so as to producef a--substantiallyp-neutral effect -or even a positive -suction by-which the vgrass is-.drawn in betweenfthe `lolades.of.the .reel and .thus presented-to-the shear.y v

An additional advantage kof the blades of the` form sh'own is theirrigidity against 'shock and impacta Because,V of the angular section they are extremely-.rigid for the-.actual Weight, and because-:oi.theirerelatively great width. 1in--.a tangential for, chordaldirectionthestrength against.

impact islextrernely high. :l

In, Figures.` fi-iandjl PI have .shown. other ny knife' .and `.bed knifestructures embodying-the present invention@ Inl-.the (case. there illustrated,

instead .of the angular. formof. ny. knivesr, as justY described,withw the itrailing-i-,edges' .sharpened-to improve the aerodynamic'functioning I ,have in this. case ,usedffly-...knives Bil having cross-seca tional form similar to' conventional 1*turbine blad-' ing. andhaving. a substantially. airf oil 'crosssection. This is' arranged 'so-that its. -outer lface nearthe. leading edge ;iscy1i'ndrcal -ccrrespmd-V ngto the cylinder of .revolutionofjthe edges about the axisv of the reel,while`v the trailing edge is' turned 'inward `and the remaining surfaces curvedconvex onA the outsidefand concave on the inner sideso asto produce-an eicientiur-` v binewactionh4 driving i thei air .inwardly and xthus sucking grass into position.-overthe shearing edgesof the ly knives Whereas -iniFigure 1 the fly knives are-shown as riveted onto ther-lug V82 onithe -spider -84--(see Figure 53) in; Figure -2 the -flyknives are'sshown f-ormedrwithkeyho-le yslnts'zi innfvhichithe` headed fastening rivets S3- iare ieng'aged-,I soz" that- 'lthe f-y knit/'esi canfbe-:readily inserted;removed and 1re; placed without the use of any tool other thana hammerloriatsurfaceagainstwhich the =endfof the reel may bestruck. In thecase illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8 and '10, the spiders 8M are cast onto the axle with slots from their periphery into which the fly knives 30a are inserted, and with lugs 82a onto which the fly knives are held by screws inserted from the back so that centrifugal force tends to hold them; or, if desired, by riveting etc.

The outer peripheral edge of the spiders 86a are tapered or chisel-edged, so that they can come as lose as possible to the leading edge of the ily knives and therefore afford the maximum support without interfering with the shearing action.

The form of bed knife shown in Figures 6 and '7, like that shown in the earlier figures and 'the bed knives used in my prior patents, consists of folded sheet metal in this case having the lower edge folded up over the upper edge to form a lip 14a similar to that formed on the upper edge in the embodiment previously described. The hard edge strip 10 in this case is formed with a dove-tail rim on its back side which may be cheaply accomplished either by wire drawing, rolling or extrusion methods. A clamping strip 96 is formed so that its forward edge engages over the dove tail on the strip 16 and its rear edge bears against the sloping face of the bed knife I6a. Screws 92 are threaded into holes in the clamping strip 9i) to clamp the hard edge strip 'I0 in position.

Since the end of the strip 1! abuts the frame I2, it is held against any tendency to move longitudinally under the drag of the spiral y knives as the reel rotates, and it is thus held securely.

When the edge of the strip is worn or dulled, screws 92 may be loosened, strip 1f! removed and inverted so as to bring the lower edge into cutting position at the top, and thus a sharp eiiicient cutting shear is renewed. When the second edge has become unduly worn or dulled, a new strip may be purchased at relatively low cost and inserted by any user of the machine with average mechanical understanding. Because the hard edge strip is held against a rigid and accurately formed edge 'M or 'Ma and 9i), it can be made of such narrow cross section as to be substantially flexible and yet form a precision shearing edge. the most expensive and highest quality materials lfor this edge strip without excessive increase in cost of the mower.

Figure 9 shows an alternative form of fly knife wherein a narrow hard edge strip is used in a manner similar to that described for the bed knife. Here the body 80h of the ily-knife is split and its ends formed to intert with and securely engage the hard edge strip 95. By prying open the split fly-knife, strip 95 can be released and replaced with another, sharp and accurately ground. When the ily-knife is mounted as shown in Figure 6, the fly-knife body 80h is locked by the spiders 84a against spreading and thus the hard edge strip is securely locked in the fly-knife. Only when the screws 83a are removed and the ily-knives taken out of the spiders 84a can the hard strip be remo-ved and replaced.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the conventional cylindrical spiral blade reel but, in its broader aspect is applicable to all shear type mowers, especially to those wherein a succession of shear blades move along a closed path into repeated co-action with the Same cooperating shear blade.

This permits the use of l I claim: 1. In a lawn mower having at least one pair of ycutting blades with their edges angularly related,

1. a support member for at least one of said blades,

"l fastenings and keyhole slots, said slots being substantially longitudinal of the strip with their narrower ends extending toward the leading end of sai-d strip, whereby the reaction to shearing exerts a longitudinal thrust driving said narrower end of the slots on the headed fastenings therein during shearing.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which each of the cooperating shear blades is provided with a support member and one of said hard 0* shear strips extending substantially its full length.

I 3. In a lawn mower having a fixed cooperating shear blade and a rotary reel carrying a plurality of shear bla-des; support members for said blades,

a hard shear strip member positioned and conformed along at least one of said blades and having a dove tail rib engaging the support member at one side and fastening means on the support member engaging the other side, said strip having thereon a true shear edge formed by a broad angle between a face lying on the cylinder of revolution of said reel and an adjacent face extending chordally inward therefrom.

4. A rotary shear lawn mower comprising a pair of bladed cutting members having the shearing edges of their blades crossing at an acute angle Ito each other, and bearings pivotally connecting said blades to guide the shearing movement and hold them in shearing relationship, which device is characterized by each shear blade having a support member and a hard shear strip member removably secured thereon provided with a broad angle shearing edge, one of said shear blades being a xed bed knife and the cooperating blade being a spiral ily-knife having its shear edge in the path of its rotation and its crosssection approximating that of a turbine blade adapted to impel air inwardly, whereby when said y knife is rotated, centrifugal fanning away from the line of cutis avoided.

5. A rotary shear lawn mower which comprises a reel having a plurality of vturbine-like blades each blade of which has a shearing edge and a body portion extending inward and backward from its shearing edge with said reel yblade shearing edges lying along the outermost extremity of the reel.

6. A rotary shear lawn mower including a fixed bed knife and a rotary reel comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced full length ily-knives L-shaped in cross-section and each having its shear edge on lthe relatively short side of the L, said short side upstanding behind the radius from the shear edge to the axis of the reel and its relatively long side disposed close within the cylinder of revolution of said cutting edge and trailing from the direction of rotation.

7. A rotary shear lawn mower as dened in claim 6, wherein the L section of said fly-knife has an obtuse angle and said short side is of a height approximately twice the thickness of said strip.

8. A rotary shear lawn mower including a rotary reel having a plurality of fly-knives, each having a blunt shearing edge portion and a base cumferenti'ally; which-^is -severaltimes the @said radial height;J wlfierebymponk rotation`- offsaid. den vdefannngfaway y'of gthe-materialv tonrrb'es cut iis;

convex firi cross.y section. A

10'. Ari rotar;T a shear-3flawrnmowerfV which @come prises; a reelfhavngifa; pluralty:of. ,bladesfdetacha Y ably imutilatedztl'iereon;` eachi. of said-r ?olades com-, ptisingga stripsof coneavo-eonvexicross ,seeton,i means for mounting said strips orrsaid` -reelfand` fdrfseeuringffsad strips@thereonx zwith, Itheir iconcave aside 4facing ;the. direction off frotation with. oneedge of reachl Lstripl outermost, .and r:foremost in'the ,direetionmf:rotatiomto-E form the shearing.,

8o reel and for securing said strips thereon with their concave 4sidef facing the ldireetionoff'rota'f to'n;A withia blu'nt edgeV of each strip z'oute'rmostgl and foremost=in=the directionlo'rotation to form: the lshearing-ledge -anda "sharper edge trailing at.A afshorter -radiusa 'RICERARD-D.v vCLEMSQN.A z'

References Cited in the le of this-:patentiy UNITED STATESf vPlTENTS Number: Name; Date 364,7 92- Beecherr June 14,188?.

980,072 Cramer, Dem. 27, 19,10 1,139,796 Parker ,May 18,:.1915l 1,348,474 f, Aspenwall: Auge-3,.,V A19,20 1,705,810 f Driest;,Jrl. Mar-19,31929: 1,741,3761,` Ritter f ,.f.Dee.` 31, 1929- 1,882,195` Sharp ln--- Oct., 11,-1932 1,903,183 J ess-up;- .Mar.'28, 1933i, 2,045,336 :i Gottschalk s June-'23,1936y 2,260,801: Clemsonrg Or/L28. -1941 2,266,308- Clemson., Dem-.16, 1941 2,365,338r Godwin i Dee. 19;.1914 2,401,611 Carlsoni: June .4,f 19,46, 

